Beauty Blender Tips & Tricks

You’ve seen it, you heard about it, you may have it or maybe like many others, you bought it expecting the miraculous results everyone talks about and it did nothing for you. I’m talking about the Beauty Blender – the hot pink egg shaped sponge that has become an absolute staple in every makeup lover and professional’s kit.

Beauty Blenderis one of those products that has a specific way of use in order to get the full benefit from it. So today we’re covering all things Beauty Blender, how to use it correctly and some additional tips and tricks so you can make the most of this mini-wonder…

Beauty Blender Pro – Beauty Blender Original – Beauty Blender Pure

WHAT IS A BEAUTY BLENDER

In short, Beauty Blender is a makeup sponge BUT…it’s not just any makeup sponge. I remember when the very first Beauty Blender was launched and we all raised an eyebrow (or two) about what was so special about it. When I finally got one and used it, I had one of those “ah-haaa!” moments and I haven’t parted with it since.

The Beauty Blender is made from latex-free tightly compacted sponge material and coupled with its unique design allows perfect application of liquid and powder makeup on larger areas of the face, as well as hard-to-get-into corners.

SO WHY THE BEAUTY BLENDER?

Other than its shape, what sets the Beauty Blender apart from all other makeup sponges is that IT HAS TO BE USED DAMP. This is where a lot of people get confused, using the Beauty Blender in its dry form. Naturally it soaks up all the product, doesn’t distribute the product evenly and leaves a less than impressive finish on the skin.

The concept of the Beauty Blender is that it needs to be wetted (is that a word?) completely, the excess water squeezed out til there’s no more water dripping and then placed in a towel and squeezed one last time to ensure it’s no longer wet, but perfectly damp.

Here’s the Beauty Blender dry vs damp

What this does is, it expands the sponge to almost double its original size which makes the texture softer and more squishy. It also prevents the sponge from soaking up too much product (such as liquid foundation) so the product ends up on your face instead of going to waste. It also allows for flawless application of the product which is close to being that “airbrushed” look.

HOW TO USE THE BEAUTY BLENDER

This is another gray area for many. Traditionally we’re used to using sponges by swiping it against the skin. With the Beauty Blender, the products need to be applied in dabbing/patting motions…never swipe or drag on the skin.

By dabbing the product onto the skin, the Beauty Blender ensures the product is evenly distributed and hence giving the skin that seamless, streak-free flawless finish. There are no obvious lines or uneven patches and it’s super quick.

HOW TO CARE FOR THE BEAUTY BLENDER

Hygiene is extremely important when it comes to makeup products and tools and the Beauty Blender is no exception. In fact, being a sponge and used damp, it’s imperative to know how to properly clean and dry the Beauty Blender so bacteria doesn’t breed within the sponge and hence transfer onto the skin.

The most important tip I can give you about the Beauty Blender is: leave it out in the open after each use. Don’t put it away in your makeup drawer, in your makeup bag or any other enclosed space where it won’t breathe and dry properly. This is where mould and bacteria starts to take residence and it’s not healthy for the skin or the sponge.

* Use the rounded bottom of the Beauty Blender for larger areas of the face such as cheeks, forehead and chin. Use the pointy tip for sides of the nostrils, inner corner of the eyes or for concealer under the eyes.

* You can use the damp Beauty Blender with powder products too. It sets the makeup and prevents that chalky/cakey look all at the same time.

* You can apply blushes, bronzers, contour products and highlighters (liquid, cream or powder) with the Beauty Blender

* You can dab away excess product if your initial application was too heavy. The more you dab at the product, the more sheer it gets.

* Beauty Blender comes in different colors but texture and performance of the sponge is the same for all of them.

* There’s a tiny version of the original Beauty Blender called the Micro Mini to use around the eye area.

* Latest release from Beauty Blender is the Body Blender sponge which is larger and slightly flatter and it’s perfect for application of body makeup, bronzers and also tanning products.

* There are many Beauty Blender dupes out there but I’m yet to hear of one coming close to the quality and performance of the original. Beauty Blenders last a very long time if cared for properly so purchasing the original is definitely a better option.

7 comments

Team Beauty Blender all the way!!! My girlfriends each got one for their birthdays last year I became so obsessed with it. I need to go and purchase the micro and body versions asap!

I use my Beauty Blender for my foundations, my under eye concealer, my setting powder….. essentially everything I need to set my face makeup! I love the idea of the body Beauty Blender for bronzers, especially in these summer months.

I soak mine in alcohol also, every couple of weeks followed by washing. But I use baby shampoo for daily washing. Sarah, would it be better for my blender to use the brand’s soap?

Hi Sydney, sounds like you’re definitely making the most of your beauty blender. They just released a brand new blotting sponge called the Blotterazzi; might be worth checking out too :)

As for cleansing, the Beauty Blender soap is amazing at melting the makeup right off (both sponges and brushes) but if the shampoo is working for you, I’d say just stick with it. If you do get the BB cleanser though, especially the soap bar, make sure you wear rubber gloves when handling it. It’s so strong, made my hands so dry and literally peel off. Otherwise I use Dr Bronner’s castille soap which you can get from the drugstore and it makes for an amazing sponge/brush cleanser too. If you go for the tea tree one, it has anti-bacterial properties; highly recommend it :)

Hi Sarah, excellent post. I absolutely love my beauty blender, it has so many uses and I couldn’t live without it in my kit. I clean mine after each use and once a week I place it in the microwave for like 30 seconds just to get any bacteria that may still be lingering in the sponge. Just makes me feel better doing so.